Sasquatch Campers uses on-demand metal fabrication to develop new products, quickly
OSH Cut INC
23 Feb 2023
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Kass and Beth Kremer and their friend Daryl Magner decided to go outdoors and explore Silverton, Colorado’s backcountry. After enjoying a full day exploring and meeting new people, they noticed an interesting trend: “We proceeded to watch almost everyone else funnel out of the backcountry and head back to town or their RV site,” says Kass Kremer. “We discussed that these wonderful people and adventurers like us were missing out on some of the best parts of being outside - watching the sunset, falling asleep under the expansive sky, and waking up to the sunlight.”
This realization sparked an idea for a rugged, capable, and luxurious camping trailer that would allow people to fully enjoy the beauty of nature. “As we are all engineers, we immediately began thinking about what product could enable people to stay and enjoy the outdoors longer,” says Kass.
This was the genesis of Sasquatch Expedition Campers.
Over the course of several months, the team continued to develop and refine their designs, building prototypes and testing them with customers to ensure the product met their high standards. One of the biggest challenges faced by entrepreneurial engineers was finding the right supplier for the unique engineering parts they needed. With over 600 unique parts, most of which are custom sheet metal designs, the company needed to work with a supplier that was both efficient and reliable. This proved to be a challenge until they found an on-demand metal fabricator that enabled their team to quickly upload drawings, instantly receive a quote and timeline for production, and order custom sheet metal designs. “OSH Cut’s ability for us to send drawings and have their system quote and order parts automatically significantly sped up our production development process,” says Kass. This innovative solution and partnership allowed Sasquatch Expedition Campers to bring their products to market faster.
Sheet metal processes enable production of complex pieces by welding together smaller parts that are cut and bent on a press brake. It also allows the campers to be light-weight and durable, as all the sheet metal is aluminum, giving customers a larger range of capable tow vehicles and more control in the backcountry. The Sasquatch Expedition Campers team is dedicated to increasing production rate year-over-year, and they currently employ one sales rep and two full-time manufacturing technicians, along with a seasonal technician who are working on projects to increase productivity. They hope to bring additional manufacturing capabilities in-house, such as powder-coating, as they continue to grow. The vision is not only to continue to disrupt the camper industry, but to also support Silverton, Colorado’s local economy and help it thrive again.
Starting a new business in a remote, mountain town like Silverton, Colorado was a labor of love for the Sasquatch Expedition Campers team. They chose this location because it aligns with their mission and product, and they want to support local manufacturing businesses and jobs. The team is passionate about providing customers with a product that allows them to explore further, safely, and fall asleep under the stars. They are proud to support rural manufacturing and local job opportunities. Beth Kremer also works for a non-profit to bring economic development into Silverton. “The reception and excitement around Sasquatch Expedition Campers has been very welcoming and we want to create a company that represents the wonderful community of Silverton, and supports the local economy,” says Beth.
Sasquatch Expedition Campers is a company that was founded by engineers and born out of a passion for adventure and a desire to provide customers with a unique and unforgettable camping experience. The company has faced challenges along the way, but they have overcome them through innovation, hard work and determination. In the next five years, the company is focused on scaling their business, increasing their production rate, and supporting the local community. By using sheet metal as a critical component of their manufacturing process, they are able to create lightweight, durable, and high-quality camping trailers that are unlike anything else on the market. “We’re proud to provide our customers with a product that allows them to explore further and safely while also supporting rural manufacturing and local job opportunities,” says Kass.
To learn more about Sasquatch Expedition Campers, check them out at https://www.sasquatch-campers.com/.
